About the Personal Defense Network

Our goal is simple – to be the leading destination of high-quality, personal defense video content online and a no-nonsense gathering place for those serious about arming themselves for defense in every aspect of their lives.

The Beginning

We found there was a need for high-quality personal defense instructional videos, so we searched out the top instructors in the field and produced the Personal Firearm Defense DVD Series. We partnered with Rob Pincus, a personal defense industry leader and owner of I.C.E. Training, to provide instruction on our DVDs as well as act as executive director for PersonalDefenseNetwork.com.

Who We Are

Personal Defense Network (PDN) brings together the insight and training expertise of the best instructors in the industry, and has become the go-to resource for conscientious civilians, law enforcement personnel and military operators interested in defending every aspect of their lives. PDN contributors are a hand-picked group, representing all facets of personal defense, so you will have the best the web has to offer, all in one destination.

Rob Pincus – Executive Director

Rob Pincus is a professional trainer, author and consultant. He and his staff at I.C.E. Training Company provide services to military, law enforcement, private security and students interested in self-defense. Rob is the developer of the S.W.A.T. Magazine since 2001.

From 2003 through 2007, Rob was the Director of The Valhalla Training Center in Montrose, Colorado. Rob developed the training doctrines and programs that brought Valhalla to the attention of the entire shooting industry as a leading source of reality based firearms training. During this time, Valhalla was identified by the Rand Corporation as a leader in private sector reality based training and as a sole source provider to 10th Group Army Special Forces for Extreme Close Quarters Counter Ambush training.

Rob and his I.C.E. team are also regularly sought out as a Team Building and Leadership Development consultants by business leaders and multi-national corporations and conduct programs involving firearm familiarization and other unique experiences.

Recently, Rob has focused on program and instructor development. Instructors groups that have sought out Rob’s expertise and integrated components of his programs include the Chicago Police Department FTU, South Wales Police Department Training Unit (UK), NSW SEAL Qualification Training, Bavarian Polizie (DE), Orange County (FL) Sheriff’s Office and 19th Group Army Special Forces. Rob also conducts an annual conference for certified Combat Focus Shooting Instructors.

Omari Broussard

Omari Broussard is the founder and director of training at 10X Defense in Menifee, California. He is also a lead Combat Focus Shooting instructor and adjunct instructor for I.C.E. Training Company. He carries certifications from I.C.E. Training, CrossFit, Blauer Tactical Systems, the National Rifle Association, and the U.S. Navy.

Omari has led and designed training programs in Maritime Interdiction Operations for various U.S. Navy Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Teams. He has extensive experience training military, law enforcement, security professionals, and private citizens in combatives and defensive shooting. He continues to work with armed professionals and private citizens as an instructor and consultant. As a founding member of the Association of Defensive Shooting Instructors, he hopes to make valuable contributions to the future of the firearms training industry.

John Brown

John Brown is a staff instructor for I.C.E. Training Company and the owner of CrossFit Agoge in Montrose, Colorado. He is a 10-year veteran of the United States Navy and has spent the last 13 years training people in various skills and capacities, from Olympic weightlifting to close-quarters combat and breaching methods. He carries various certifications from CrossFit, USA Weightlifting, I.C.E. Training and the U.S. Navy.

Cecil Burch

Cecil Burch has been pursuing his passion for Martial Arts since he was 16. He has trained in a number of fighting methods and held teaching certifications in such diverse arts as Jeet Kune Do, Savate and Muay Thai.

He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Megaton Dias. He was also one of the original select group of people authorized by Rodney King, creator of the Crazy Monkey Defense (CMD) boxing system, to teach CMD. He is currently one of the four highest-level CMD trainers in the world.

Cecil has worked with law enforcement officers, military special operations troops, and private citizens on the functional utilization of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, boxing, and clinch-fighting in close quarters combat.

Caleb Causey

Caleb Causey has been involved with field and tactical medicine for over 15 years. Caleb is the owner of the field and tactical medical training company, Lone Star Medics. He served as a combat medic in the United States Army and has had multiple deployments. He spent six years with a volunteer fire department. During that time, Caleb was also the lead medic for the SWAT team. Caleb has earned multiple instructor and provider level certifications at state and national levels in Emergency Medicine. He has been a presenter at several conferences over the years and continues to learn more than he teaches. Lone Star Medics offers different levels of courses for the layperson, healthcare providers, and law enforcement throughout the country.

Chris Collins

Chris Collins is the owner of ATAP Training in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he develops and delivers curriculum to a demographic ranging from first-time gun owners to highly trained Special Operations members around the globe. Chris is also the Director of Training at NextLevel Training in Ferndale, Washington and an instructor for the United States Shooting Academy. He is a five-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he served in 3rd Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company and 2nd Battalion 8th Marines. He is a founding member of the Association of Defensive Shooting Instructors and continually strives to find better ways to deliver students information that may someday save their lives.

Grant Cunningham

Grant Cunningham is a renowned gunsmith, author and trainer noted for his expertise with the double-action revolver.

His work on Colt, S&W, and Ruger revolvers has been featured in several national magazines. When he’s not building fine revolvers, Grant can be found on the range teaching proper handling and operation of the double-action wheelgun.

Whether for sport or defense, Grant passes on to others the skill of shooting what he calls “the quintessential American firearms.” His engaging teaching style earns rave reviews from his students.

Chris Fry

Chris Fry is the owner and director of training and curriculum development for Modern Defensive Training Systems in Utica, New York, where he conducts courses in reality-driven practical combatives, extreme close quarters physical defense, tactical folding knife, edged weapon combatives, and combative pistol, carbine and shotgun skills. Chris has been an active instructor with Progressive F.O.R.C.E. Concepts in Nevada since 2003, servicing law enforcement, military and select government agencies. Chris is a certified AR-15/M4/M16 and Glock armorer, a contributor to various online firearms resource websites, and a frequent presenter at national and international personal protection and small arms training conferences for both citizens and law enforcement.

Paul Haberstroh

Paul Haberstroh is an NRA Training Counselor for Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection in the Home, Outside the Home, and Home Firearm Safety. He is also a Certified Combat Focus Shooting Instructor, a Certified PPCT Defensive Tactics Instructor and a Certified Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor®. He holds firearms instructor certifications from the California Department of Justice, Utah Department of Public Safety and Kansas Office of the Attorney General. Paul is also a Certified Glock Armorer.

Robb Hamic

Robb Hamic is a professional self-defense teacher and his company is Summit Self Defense™. He specializes in training women, men, law enforcement and military personnel. He is an Israeli Krav Maga™ Instructor and he trains in Israel. He is a Combat Focus® Shooting Instructor, NRA LEAD Instructor and has trained numerous other shooting and tactical systems. Robb gives instruction on most weapons platforms, including handgun, shotgun, assault rifle, carbine, and submachine gun. He teaches seminars locally, nationally and internationally. He has clubs and training facilities in Austin, Texas, as well as Albuquerque and Taos, New Mexico. He is a regular columnist for several law enforcement/military training publications and magazines. He can be reached at robbhamic.com.

Marty Hayes

Marty Hayes is founder and president of the Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, LLC, a membership organization whose mission is to educate, aid and assist its members regarding acts of legitimate self-defense. He is a former police officer, president and director of The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc. and has worked as a court-recognized expert in shooting cases for close to 20 years.

Aaron Israel

Aaron Israel is a certified Combat Focus Shooting Instructor, a Texas Concealed Handgun License Instructor, and the owner of Fundamental Defense in Midland, Texas. He is an eight-year veteran of the United States Army with experience in Psychological Operations on the enlisted side and as a Captain in the Field Artillery branch on the officer side. He deployed to southern Iraq in support of OIF in 2008-2009 with 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. He left the service in 2011 and now works full-time in the oil and gas industry while teaching defensive firearms classes on the side. His passion as an instructor is to show average working men and women how to train in context for defensive situations with only limited time and resources. Aaron can be reached at fundamentaldefense@gmail.com or on his website, www.fundamentaldefense.org.

Michael Janich

Michael Janich is the founder of Martial Blade Concepts, a progressive armed and unarmed defense training company. Janich served nine years in the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, including a three-year tour at the National Security Agency. Janich is also one of the foremost modern authorities on handgun point shooting and one of the few contemporary instructors to have been personally trained by the late close-combat legend Colonel Rex Applegate. Janich is widely recognized as an authority on edged-weapon design and has designed knives for the Masters of Defense knife company, noted custom knifemakers Mike Snody and Wally Hayes, Spyderco, Inc., Blackhawk Products Group and Combat Elite.

Barret Kendrick

Barret Kendrick is the founder of and lead instructor at Bearco Training in Covington, Louisiana. As Louisiana’s premier reality-based training center, Bearco Training specializes in providing practical defensive skills for everyday people.

As a full-time instructor, Barret has dedicated himself and his company to provide realistic defensive training to responsible armed citizens, law enforcement, and members of our armed forces. Throughout his region and nationally, he works with hundreds of students annually in defensive shooting and force-on-force training.

Andy Langlois

Andy Langlois has been a police officer for over 10 years, a firearms/use of force trainer for over 15 years, and a leather craftsman for over 15 years. He is a follower of Jeff Cooper and has studied with and under various instructors, including Ayoob, Cain, Jeans and Pincus. Langlois is a rabid 1911 fan and carries at least one for duty and CCW. His other interests are the Scout Rifle and AR-15s for sporting and defensive uses. He hosts the Scout Rifle Forum at scoutrifle.org as well as some other firearms/defensive forums. He can be reached via his website at shottist.com.

Andy Loeffler

Andy Loeffler is the lead handgun instructor at Black Wing Shooting Center, an NASR five-star rated range and gun shop located in Delaware, Ohio. He has been teaching in the private sector since 1999 and is a certified Combat Focus Shooting instructor. A U.S. Army veteran, Andy retired from the Ohio Army National Guard, where he served as the Senior Small Arms Instructor for the State’s Master Weapons Training Team. Andy teaches full-time for Black Wing Shooting Center and can be reached via blackwingsc.com.

Julie Loeffler

Julie Loeffler, owner and operator of Mid-Ohio IMB (Delaware, Ohio), is an Associate Instructor in the IMB Academy, the school founded by Richard “The Iron Dragon” Bustillo and which continues to teach the concepts of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do. She is a brown belt under Supreme Grand Master Cacoy Canete in Filipino Eskrima. She also teaches handgun basics to women and is a published author for The American Woman Shooter as well as PDN. Julie believes that empowering individuals to identify and adopt what works best for them in armed and unarmed defense is the most practical approach to personal safety. Contact Julie at julie@midohioimb.com or via her website, www.midohioimb.com.

Kelly Muir

Kelly Muir has been involved in Martial Arts for over 30 years. Training since the age of nine, she holds a Master Level certification in both Shorin-Ryu Karate and Korean Tae Kwon Do. A pioneering force in the development of curriculum for martial arts centers, her innovative teaching style has received numerous national awards and been featured in many magazines and industry journals. As a former United States Olympic Committee sponsored athlete, Kelly is very committed to the development of Sport Martial Arts. She currently owns and operates Team Karate Center in Columbus, Ohio. Kelly is also the Founder of the Wrong Woman™ Self Defense Program.

Rich Nable

An Atlanta native, Rich Nable started with the Fulton Police Department in 1987 and worked patrol for almost 18 years. He became FTO in 1998 and trained officers in that capacity for seven years. In 2005, he was assigned to the firing range full time and became Lieutenant/rangemaster in 2011. SWAT certified since 2001, he is currently an operator and sniper team leader. He creates and teaches most of the firearms and related programs for the regional police academy and his department. Nable has written two books on police work and is writing a third for instructors/trainers. He’s on the board of directors for the Georgia Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and is training coordinator for the Georgia Tactical Officer Association.

Jarrod Needs

Jarrod Needs is the owner and lead instructor for Trigger Time LLC, located in the Mansfield, Ohio, area. He has been shooting since he was about five years old and learned marksmanship from his father. In 2012, Jarrod began teaching firearms part-time, but soon found himself extremely busy with students driving from all over Ohio for his courses. Jarrod is a constant student and loves training and learning new concepts in defensive firearms. He is currently NRA Certified in Basic Pistol and Personal Protection, and recently completed the Association of Defensive Shooting Instructors’ Intuitive Sighted Fire Instructor Development Course. Jarrod’s courses focus on concealed handgun self-defense, and his students range from beginners to retired law enforcement and military. He can be reached at info@triggertimeohio.com.

Kent O’Donnell

A former Marine, EMT, and firefighter, Kent O’Donnell has eight years in the police service. He has served in the Patrol Division, Street Crimes Unit, and Training Division. Kent holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Fort Lewis College. With Black Sheep Tactical Training, he focuses on student success by providing positive reinforcement and a learning environment that promotes receptive students. He can be reached through blacksheeptacticaltraining.com.

Jamie Onion

Jamie Onion is an active law enforcement officer in the State of Ohio, where he also teaches at several colleges in their Criminal Justice programs. He has been a law enforcement instructor for 10 years. Jamie holds instructor-level certifications for the state law enforcement academy, Handgun, Rifle/Carbine, Sub-machinegun, TASER, O.C/Pepper Spray and Baton. He is also a certified Combat Focus Shooting™, Combat Focus Carbine, and Advanced Pistol Handling Instructor. He runs his own training company for LEO, military and civilian students. His educational background consists of both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Masters of Public Administration. In addition to his instructor credentials, Jamie has attended several hundred hours of firearms and other training from some of the world’s top instructors and continues to do so regularly.

Deryck Poole

Deryck Poole is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the founder and director of training for Echo-5 Training Group. He is also a senior Combat Focus Shooting instructor and works for I.C.E. Training as a staff instructor and outside instructor liaison. He also holds certifications from I.C.E. Training and Glock Inc, plus multiple NRA instructor certifications.

Deryck has 17 years of experience as an instructor. He conducted training for both combat and non-combat personnel while serving as a rifleman and range safety NCO in the Marines. He continues to work with both armed professionals and lawfully armed citizens as a firearms and defensive shooting instructor. He believes all instructors should consider themselves a student first, so he regularly attends training from some of the world’s top instructors. He is a member of the Association of Defensive Shooting Instructors.

Mike Riter

Mike Riter is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he conducted weapons and drill training for the Tyndall Air Force Base Honor Guard Team from 1988 to 1991. He also served as a weapons instructor and maintenance inspector for a rapid deployment team of Civil Engineers from 1988 to 1992, including an overseas assignment during the first Persian Gulf War. He attained certification as a Combat Focus® Shooting instructor in October 2009 and has also attained certifications as an NRA Pistol Instructor, Range Safety Officer, and I.C.E. Defensive Firearms Coach. He founded Intuitive Training Concepts, LLC in November 2009.

Mike Seeklander

Mike Seeklander is the owner and operator of Shooting Performance, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A combat veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Seeklander served five years of active duty and four years of reserve duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was an intelligence specialist and marksmanship instructor. He also has local and federal law enforcement experience, including more than 10 years as a full-time or lead instructor. In addition to running live course, Mike has written two books, dozens of articles and hosted television shows related to firearms and personal defense instruction.

Seeklander served as the Branch Chief and lead instructor for the Firearms Division at the Federal Air Marshal Training Division in Atlantic City. He was responsible for the development, implementation and supervision of all firearms and tactical shoot-house instruction for the Federal Air Marshal Service.

Daniel Shaw

Daniel Shaw is a retired U.S. Marine infantryman with multiple combat tours and instructor titles. He has developed curricula and training standards for pre-deployment training and Marine Security Forces such as the Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Teams (FAST) and the Naval Nuclear Security Program. His direct action experience includes Level IV VBSS and In Extremis Hostage Rescue. Currently, Daniel is the founder and director of Paratus Academy in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is also the host and executive producer of the podcast Gunfighter Cast, which focuses on issues pertaining to armed citizens through multiple media sources.

Daniel has been a certified firearms instructor for over 14 years. He holds numerous instructor certifications from the U.S. Marine Corps, to include foreign weapons and master instructor of handgun, rifle/carbine, shotgun, and medium to heavy machine guns.

Mark Slane

Mark Slane is a retired firefighter who has been in the martial arts for 28 years. He is a fourth dan in taekwondo, second-degree black belt in Krav Maga, and has owned martial arts schools since 1993. He is the head instructor for the United States Krav Maga Association and owner of Ohio Krav Maga & Fitness, which has had one of the fastest-growing adult programs in the nation over the past three years. He also wrote the book Be Safe: Self Defense For Women In the Real World, available on Amazon.

Ian Strimbeck

Ian Strimbeck is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he conducted training for host-nation forces in small-unit tactics as an Infantry Rifleman. During that time, he attained experience in combat and security operations, and was in multiple high-tension environments. He was deployed twice, once in support of OIF and the other in support of the 22nd MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit).

Ian is a certified Combat Focus Shooting Instructor, NRA Basic Firearm and Massachusetts State Police Firearms Instructor, certified Glock Armorer and certified Fit Shot Instructor. He works executive protection services for Corporate Resources Group. He is also a founding member of the Association of Defensive Shooting Instructors.

Lee Vernon

Lee Vernon is the founder and CEO of Combative Weapon Solutions, based out of Austin, Texas.

CWS’s diverse and highly trained core of instructors are seasoned and active law enforcement officers, firefighters/EMS, and military personnel who have well over 50 years of combined real-life street experience dealing with the realities of violence.

Daniel Watson

Daniel Watson (aka TAC) is the sole owner and operator of Tactical Awareness Concepts, LLC. Operating out of northeast Texas, he teaches a variety of firearms courses along with the Texas Concealed Handgun License Course. Daniel is a U.S. Army Warrant Officer who retired in 2011 after 22+ years of service. A decorated combat veteran, he now serves as a U.S. Contractor in Afghanistan. TAC is an NRA Certified Handgun instructor, former reserve police officer, professional airplane pilot and helicopter pilot.

Claude Werner

Claude Werner is a retired U.S. Army officer. He served in Airborne, Ranger, Special Forces and Mechanized Infantry units and commanded a Special Forces A-Team and Bradley Infantry Company. He is an NRA Certified Instructor for Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection in the Home, Home Firearm Safety and is a Certified Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor®. For five years, he was the Chief Instructor at the elite Rogers Shooting School. Claude is a Four Gun Master in the International Defensive Pistol Association and has won several sanctioned IDPA championships in the revolver division using snub-nose revolvers.

Justin White

Justin White began training in the martial arts at age 15 and never stopped. Upon his wife’s entrance to U.S. Army active duty in 2010, he expanded his focus to defensive applications of armed and unarmed combatives. He is certified to instruct Basic and Tactical Modern Army Combatives and is active in the combatives program at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

White founded Mad Science MMA to share his passion for martial arts and prepare U.S. service members and their dependents for both the competitive arena and the world stage. He has helped train hundreds of soldiers, including military personnel from more than ten allied nations. He is an NRA certified Pistol Instructor, Jujitsu black belt, and recently became the first civilian trained and certified in the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Combatives Program.

David L. Williams

David L. Williams served as a lieutenant on the Dayton (OH) Police Department, where he retired. While on the Dayton PD, he was a supervisor and commander in charge of undercover drug units, uniformed strike forces and gang investigations. David has been involved in several shooting incidents and was awarded the Medal of Valor. He also conducted and supervised the investigation of many officer-involved and civilian shootings over the course of his career.

David is currently the director and chief instructor for Miami Valley Law Enforcement Training. He conducts OPOTA certified training for law enforcement and private security personnel. He conducts training for legally armed citizens with the program Deadly Force Decisions.